by Mark Blaudschun, Special for USA TODAY Sports

by Mark Blaudschun, Special for USA TODAY Sports

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Chapter 2 of Tebow-mania, New England Patriots-style, played out at the team's minicamp Wednesday.

There were fewer reporters and fewer questions, which should probably be expected considering Tim Tebow has a non-guaranteed two-year deal and sits third on the quarterback depth chart behind Tom Brady and Ryan Mallett, two of the players who talked about their newest teammate a day after his arrival.

Also weighing in with an important endorsement was owner Robert Kraft, who might not have the loudest voice in the room but is never afraid to express an opinion.

"He's a winner,'' said Kraft, who was hosting the Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards at Gillette Stadium in honor of his late wife. "I don't know anyone who hasn't said anything but positive things about him. I'm happy he is part of our franchise.''

The owner, who said he watched Tebow when he was at the University of Florida, likes the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner's competitiveness and spirituality and thinks he will be a locker room asset.

"You can't get enough people like him," Kraft said. "Life is about collecting good people around you. You can't have enough good people.''

That's an atypical assessment for a third-string passer who likely will have to fight for a roster spot.

But this, of course, is Tebow, whose three-year NFL career has included stops with the Denver Broncos and New York Jets and produced, at best, mixed results. Far more attention often gets paid to what Tebow says, though scrutiny also follows once he sets foot on the field.

With the Jets, Tebow's one-year stay was a sideshow. The experiment flopped, and he was jettisoned after the draft in April.

Yet New England might be the perfect place for Tebow to develop whatever skills he might possess. The Bill Belichick regime snuffs controversy quickly and might allow Tebow - who was limited to a 36-second statement Tuesday - to focus on his game rather than media obligations.

Belichick was on the verge of exasperation amid the constant barrage of Tebow questions Tuesday but was more like himself a day later. When asked specifically how Tebow looked in his first day of workouts, Belichick went to his formulaic reserve of answers.

"I think everyone out there is in pretty much the same boat,'' the longtime coach said. "They are trying to get better day by day, some guys are at different starting points. He is obviously at a starting point that is different."

When asked about assessing Tebow on Day 1, Belichick responded: "I don't think evaluating players on a couple of plays is a real good practice. We have to wait until we have a little bit more to make evaluations. It would be the same with any player who you put out there on the first day. It's kind of a learning experience."

All-pro defensive tackle Vince Wilfork offered a general view of what is expected of Tebow regardless of the role he's asked to assume for the Patriots.

"I regarded it as another teammate who can help us win," Wilfork said. "I'm glad to have him on the team. ... It's all about football and winning here. If you are not about that, there is not a place for you on this team."

Translation: There's no place for distractions. "If you are not willing to put winning first, you won't make it here,'' Wilfork added.

More directly affected by Tebow's presence is Mallet, the third-year backup quarterback and designated (for now) replacement for Brady when his time with the Patriots is done.

But Mallett, a Southeastern Conference (Arkansas) product like Tebow, is embracing any prospective competition for his job. And he's not worried about controversy.

"I don't have to deal with it. I have tunnel vision," Mallet said with a laugh.

So does Brady. The two-time MVP is entrenched as the starter and focused anew on winning his fourth Super Bowl ring. Knowing his job isn't at stake probably makes it easier to embrace a man who was a division adversary last season.

"We welcomed him like we would any new teammate," Brady said. "It's been a fun couple of days."

Brady said he doesn't know Tebow all that well but said anyone who competes in the NFL has a high level of talent.

As to any distractions Tebow's arrival might entail, as it did in Denver and New York, Brady quickly avoided the topic.

"I don't worry about much these days," he said, "but it (controversy) goes with the territory."